TUESDAY, JANUARY 22, 1985
6
NEW ANTI-TRIAD STRATEGIES EFFECTIVE
POLICE HAVE REVISED THE IR STRATEGIES TO COUNTER TRIAD AND GANG ACTIVITIES AND THEY ARE PROVING EFFECTIVE, THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR, CRIME, MR BRIAN WEBSTER, SAID TODAY (TUESDAY).
MR WEBSTER SAID AT A KIWANIS CLUB OF HONG KONG LUNCH MEETING THAT FIVE TERRITORY-WIDE ANTI-CRIME OPERATIONS WERE MOUNTED IN THE SECOND HALF OF 1984 AS PART OF THE COUNTER MEASURES.
HE SAID 47 769 PEOPLE WERE QUESTIONED, 4 405 PREMISES SEARCHED, 674 PEOPLE ARRESTED AND 17 MISSING PERSONS FOUND AS A RESULT.
''OUR CONCERN IS REAL AND OUR ACTION WHEN SUCCESSFUL SAY WHEN NOT IF MUST AND WILL IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE IN HONG KONG," HE SAID.
AND I
MR WEBSTER SAID THERE WERE NO LONGER ANY LOFTY IDEALS ABOUT TRIADS-THEY ARE CRIMINAL GANGS WHO USE SOME OF THE MYSTICISM OF TRIAD RITUAL TO FURTHER THEIR OWN NEFARIOUS MOTIVES."
THE INCIDENCE OF TRIAD GANGS DID GIVE CAUSE FOR SERIOUS CONCERN WITH THEIR INVOLVEMENT IN ORGANISED CRIME, VICE, ILLEGAL BOOKMAKING MONOPOLIES AND SUCH LIKE, HE SAID.
''THE GANGS ARE WELL ORGANISED AND HAVE BECOME MUCH MORE EXPERT AND BUSINESS-LIKE THAN WAS EVIDENT IN DAYS OF YORE,' HE SAID.
ON TRIADS AND DRUGS, MR WEBSTER SAID TRIADS HAVE A RANK STRUCTURE WHICH LENT ITSELF TO SYNDICATED DRUG TRAFFICKING, AS IT DID FOR ALL OTHER TYPES OF ORGANISED CRIME.
''SENIOR OFFICIALS FINANCE, MIDDLE RANKS ORGANISE, WHILE THE LOWER RANKS TAKE THE GREATEST RISKS AND ARE MORE LIKELY TO BE APPREHENDED BE IT IN IMPORTATION, CONVERSION OF HEROIN BASE TO USABLE NO. 3 HEROIN IN THE MANUFACTURE PROCESS OR STREET LEVEL TRAFFICKING, " HE SAID.
MR WEBSTER POINTED OUT THAT INDIVIDUAL TRIAD SOCIETIES OR GROUPS DID NOT OPERATE IN TOTAL ISOLATION OR IN COMPETITION WITH ONE ANOTHER.
**THERE IS PLENTY OF EVIDENCE THAT WHERE MONEY - BIG MONEY - IS TO BE MADE ALLEGIANCE TO THE TRIAD SOCIETY TAKES A BACK SEAT. NOR IS IT TRUE TO SAY THAT ALL DRUG SYNDICATES ARE TRIAD-CONTROLLED.
"IT IS RECOGNISED THAT NON-TRIAD CRIMINAL GROUPS CAN ENTER THE LOCAL DRUG SCENE. IT MUST ALSO BE RECOGNISED THAT TRIADS PROVIDE A READY SOURCE OF MANPOWER TO PROTECT A SHIPMENT AND DISTRIBUTE IT LOCALLY.''
/AR LEBSTER